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Tea Leaf china collectors celebrate 30th year

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Members will be celebrating 30th anniversary of the Tea Leaf Club International at their annual convention Sept. 17-20. The Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, Mich., will be the site this year and club members from around the country are expected to join in the celebration.

Unofficial activities will begin on Sept. 17 with an open house at the home of nearby club members. Sept. 18 is tour day and attendees will visit a number of historical sites including the Fort Custer National Cemetery, W.K. Kellogg Manor House, the Gilmore Car Museum and the National Miniatures Trust Museum.

The official start of the convention takes place the evening of Sept. 18 when everyone will gather at the hotel to share a number of activities including a tops and bottoms swap meet, a grouping of Tea Leaf tablescapes featuring various patterns of this china.

Rounding out the evening will be a 30 Year Auction Retrospective where rare and unusual pieces sold at our annual auctions will be discussed and illustrated. Members will also be able to visit the popular Giftique booth where an array of new items featuring the Tea Leaf motif will be offered.

Sept. 19 is set aside for the annual convention auction where more than 200 pieces of Tea Leaf lustre china and related patterns, including Moss Rose, will be consigned by members.

This is the major event of the weekend and an important fund raiser for the club. It is hoped this year’s sales will help the club reach the Million Dollar mark, the total proceeds for our auction over the past 30th years.

After the excitement of the auction attendees will be able to rest up a while before the evening banquet and award ceremony.

The final big event of the convention is the Sunday Morning Table Sales where more than a dozen tables covered with more Tea Leaf and its “cousins” will provide one last chance for everyone to pick up another treasure before they head home.

Only dues-paying club members are permitted to attend the club convention, so if you’d like to learn about joining the club and finding out more about this big 30th Anniversary Celebration please contact Karl and Peg Schilling, 3120 E. Titus Ave., Des Moines, IA 50320; 515-256-3866; e-mail: k.schilling@mchsi.com.